The development and maintenance of myelinated tissue cultures of rat trigeminal ganglion

Trigeminal ganglia of fetal or neonatal rats and mice have been cultured on collagen‐coated coverslips in Maximow assemblies. The methods which proved optimal and the natural history of the resulting cultures are presented in detail. Cultures formed abundant myelin, remained healthy for at least three months, and resembled previously described cultures of other primary sensory ganglia in most but not all respects. New features included an exceptionally high requirement for glucose and apparently for other nutrients, migration of some neuron somas, and the occasional occurrence of stable but abnormally formed myelin segments. The advantages and limitations of such cultures for experimental study of isolated nervous tissues are discussed.